Baby elephant rescued by mother after running aground while bathing

This adorable baby elephant had to be saved by its mother’s giant trunk after it got muddy while bathing.

The youngster enjoyed a dip in the water but got stuck when he was trying to pull himself out of the pool.

He had to be safely lifted by his mother and her trusty trunk, acting as a crane as she lifted the three-month-old calf out of the water.

Finally, after it returned to dry land, the little elephant was able to strut out of the watering hole to dry.

Photographer Ken Watkins from Greyton, South Africa, went to Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe to photograph the elephants.

The 64-year-old said: ‘Sometimes little elephants slip into the water in the national park and this one just couldn’t get out.

‘I was so worried for the calf and it took the mother two minutes to pull the baby out of the water.

‘When the mother pulled the calf to safety, they both went away to dry off. ”